v. Obs. Forms: see THINK. Also 4–6 forethink. [repr. two distinct words: α. OE. forðęncan (f. FOR- pref.1 + ðęncan to THINK) = OHG. fordenchen (Ger. verdenken). β. f. FOR- pref.1 + OE. þyncan to seem. Cf. MHG. verdunken and ON. forþykkja to displease.]
I. Senses from OE. ðyncan.
1. trans. To displease, cause regret to.
a. 1225. Juliana, 16. Ne ich ne seh him neuer þat me sare forþuncheð.
c. 1325. English Metrical Homilies (Small) xvi.
| To king William bodword was broht | |
| Of this tithing that him for thoht. |
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, II. 1365 (1414).
| I nas, ne nevere to be I thenke, | |
| Ayens a thing that myght the forthenke. |
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 6446.
| If … it had you forthoght, | |
| Ye might [etc.]. |
c. 1530. Adam Bel, 547, in Hazl., E. P. P., II. 161.
| For I hav y-graunted them grace, | |
| And that forthynketh me. |
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot. (1858), I. 200.
| ‘Forsuith,’ he said, ‘full sair forthinkis me, | |
| The greit injuris and enormitie | |
| Done to my sister and her sone Gwydeir.’ |
2. impers. and quasi-impers. (It) forthinks (me, him, etc.): I, etc., feel regret, repent, or am sorry. Const. of, for, or that, with dependent clause.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 2732. If sco did it hir for-thoght.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 285. Me forthynkeȝ ful much þat euer I mon made.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XXI. 92.
| He syghede and seide · ‘sore hit me for-þynkeþ, | |
| Of þe dede þat ich haue don · ich do me in ȝoure grace.’ |
c. 1420. Sir Amadace (Camden), xviii. For his dedus him sore for-thoȝte.
1548. Udall, Erasm. Par. Luke xxiv. 46. The Lorde hath sworne and it shall not forthynke hym: thou art a prieste for euermore after the ordre of Melchisedec.
1578–1600. Scot. Poems 16th C. (1801), II. 166.
| Baneist is faith now euery quhair, | |
| And sair forthinkes me. |
1588. A. King, trans. Canisius’ Catech., Confession, 12. It forthinkes me sore that I haue sinned.
II. Senses from OE. ðęncan.
3. a. trans. To despise or neglect. OE. only.
b. intr. To be reluctant.
c. 1000. Ags. Ps. (Th.), xlviii. Argt., He lærde þæt þa ðearfan hy ne forðohton.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 16427 (Cott.). Pilate forthoght þam bath to wrath.
4. trans. To think upon with pain; to regret, repent of, be sorry for; rarely passive.
a. 1250[?]. Ags. Poem, clxxvi., in Hickes, Thes. (1705), I. 224.
| Se þæt mai and nele ðeder come, | |
| Sore hit sel uorðenche. |
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 557.
| Syþen þe souerayn in sete so sore for-þoȝt | |
| Þat euer he man vpon molde merked to lyuy. |
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, Johannes, 445.
| He … þane sa fore-thocht his mysded, | |
| Þat he gret sare. |
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., V. xii. 1310. Wyth Rewth of Hart for-thynk youre syn.
c. 1430. How Wise Man tauȝt Son, 31, in Babees Bk. (1868), 49.
| For þou myȝte seie a word to-day | |
| Þat .vij. ȝeer after may be for-þouȝt. |
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XVII. xv. Yf thou entre thou shalt forthynke hit.
1548. W. Patten, Exped. Scotl., Pref., in Arb., Garner, III. 58. So invaded the Scottish borders, wasted and burnt Teviotdale and their Marches, that even yet they forthink [grieve over] that inroad.
a. 1639. Spottiswood, Hist. Ch. Scotl., II. (1655), 37. Suddenly forethinking what he had done, he stirred up underhand those that lived in the Borders to make Incursions upon the Scots.
1704. Min. of Torryburn Sess., in Ess. on Witchcraft (1820), 131. She would make Jean Biȝet forethink what she had done to her in not paying her two barrels of ale which she sold her.
5. refl. To change the direction of one’s thoughts; to experience a change of mind or purpose; to repent, be sorry. Const. of, that, or to with inf.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 24786 (Cott.). O þis tiþand he him for-thoght.
c. 1550. Cheke, Matt. xxvii. 3. Joudas his traitor, seing yt he was condemned, did forthink himself.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet. (1580), 40. Not yet you shall forthinke your selfe, that you haue obeyed and followed mine aduise.
1589. Warner, Alb. Eng., Æneidos, 156. Wel. may I forethinke mee so to haue done.
1599. Life Sir T. More, in Wordsw., Eccl. Biog. (1853), II. 98. There he mad such probable reasons for his so saying, that the whole counsell began to forethinke them of their forwardness, and desired a new sitting before they would give their resolutions.
b. intr. for refl. Const. of.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 279. Þe fend, concludid in insolible, shal ever forþinke.
c. 1410. Love, Bonavent. Mirr., xxii. 48 (Gibbs MS.). I wretchyd & synful come to ȝowe & flee to your grete mercy, forthynkynge inwardly of þat I haue offendid.
1509. Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1570), 132. He … then forthinketh, but late is his complaint.
153S. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 468.
| Sayand also, that he forthocht full soir | |
| Of the grit wrang wes done to him befoir. |
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 118. Better foresee, than forthinke.
1578. Whetstone, Promos & Cass., II. v. Forethinke of thy forepassed faultes.
6. Occasional uses: a. trans. To change one’s mind about; to renounce. b. intr. To think or plan something wrong; to conspire.
1483. Festivall (W. de W., 1515), 73 b. By temptacyon of the fende they forthought all theyr purpose.
1494. Coll. Hist. Staff., XII. (1891), 334. Sir Humfrey Stanley, accompanyed with … xx persons … forthought ayens your pease and lawis.
